from the free tabloid, today:
Contractual fine print unfair to consumers
Letter from Kee Puay Kiang
04:46 AM Oct 17, 2011
Recently, StarHub increased its cable television subscription rates for existing customers, including those under contract.
As a simple consumer, I expected the contract I had signed would be valid for the two-year period without any increase.
When I queried StarHub, it informed me that there was a clause in the contract to cover the increase without needing our consent.
Many do not read the fine print. In this case, the contract favours StarHub and is unfair to consumers. When we want to change or terminate plans, we must pay a penalty.
When companies decide to increase charges or change contractual terms, they have themselves "covered". We cannot even seek early termination without penalty.
The S$2 monthly increase seems nominal, but the business practice is unacceptable. Consumers should pay for ......